[2026] Recommended karaoke songs for women in their 70s: from enka to Showa-era pop

Blue Light Yokohamaishida ayumi

Blue Light Yokohama

Ayumi Ishida’s “Blue Light Yokohama” was a smash hit in 1969 and a landmark song that gave composer Kyohei Tsutsumi his first-ever No.

1 on the Oricon weekly chart.

Its wistful melody, which instantly evokes the era, and the seamlessly connected lyrics by Jun Hashimoto resonate especially deeply with women listeners in their 70s.

Beloved in Korea as well and cherished across generations, it’s a perfect choice for karaoke.

Singing about the beautiful nightscape to that nostalgic melody is sure to become a wonderful memory!

applausechiaki naomi

Naomi Chiaki / Applause [Official Audio]

Chiaki Naomi’s signature song “Kassai” (“Applause”) was released in 1972 and became a celebrated classic, winning numerous awards.

Its emotionally rich vocals and deeply expressive melody remain timeless.

It especially resonates with women in their 70s, offering a song that feels close to the heart.

It’s perfect for livening up karaoke while reminiscing about its 1972 Japan Record Award win.

Please enjoy “Kassai,” a song beloved across generations, to your heart’s content!

Terminal Station of LoveYashiro Aki

Aki Yashiro “Terminal Station of Love”

Aki Yashiro’s masterpiece, with its emotionally rich vocals, truly resonates in the heart.

This song conjures up the poignant image of a woman swaying in a cold night train, holding on to memories of a past love and her loneliness.

The word “terminal station,” which seems to overlap with life’s own journey, strikes a chord with listeners.

Released as a single in September 1977, it won the Best Vocal Performance at the 19th Japan Record Awards that same year, and her exceptional expressiveness was highly acclaimed even then.

In 1978, it also became the motif for a TV drama.

It is a piece that will likely resonate even more deeply with older listeners who have experienced many of life’s events.

It’s the perfect song for those times when you want to immerse yourself in its world at karaoke.

Tangled HairMisora Hibari

Tangled Hair

This is a gem of a song released in December 1987 as the first work marking the phoenix-like comeback of Hibari Misora, a defining figure of the Showa-era pop scene, after a long period of recuperation.

Against the backdrop of waves surging and receding, the helpless feelings of a woman who does nothing but pray for the happiness of the lover who left her tighten the listener’s chest.

The image of her heart growing ever more emaciated as the seasons turn—so much so that the obi that was double-wrapped in spring becomes triple-wrapped in autumn and still has slack—is truly a breathtaking display of expressive power.

It is said this piece was recorded in one vigorous sweep together with an orchestra, and you can feel Misora’s extraordinary intensity in her vocals.

When you tackle this classic at karaoke, try to sing with a picture in your heart of the heroine’s deep sorrow and her earnest determination to face forward nonetheless.

It will surely resonate deeply with those who listen.

As I am in love…Akimoto Junko

As I am in love…

It’s such a wonderfully moving enka/pop ballad that begins with the sound of an accordion, isn’t it? Junko Akimoto’s deep, husky voice conveys the subtleties of life and has a warmth that seems to gently stay close to the listener’s heart.

This masterpiece is filled with pure love that doesn’t compare itself to others, gratitude for the miracle of having met, and the earnest wish that such love might last forever—feelings that will surely resonate with many.

Released in January 2008 as Junko Akimoto’s third single, it won broad support over time and reached No.

1 on the Oricon overall chart about a year after its release.

It’s also included on the album “Second Story.” This song, which enriches life with its color, is perfect for immersing yourself in its world while savoring memories with someone dear or reflecting on your own journey.

How about singing it with heartfelt emotion, just like Junko Akimoto?

Rainy MidosujiŌyō Fifi

Feifei Ouyang / Midosuji in the Rain (Stranger in Midosuji) (1971) Viewing No. 41

Since its release in 1971, “Ame no Midosuji,” a hit song by Taiwanese singer Fifi Ouyang, has been beloved by countless listeners.

With Haruo Hayashi’s heartrending lyrics, a melody by The Ventures, and Ouyang’s warm, expressive vocals, the song evokes memories of lost love set against the specific backdrop of Midosuji in Osaka.

Transcending time, it showcases the enduring charm of Showa-era kayōkyoku and is a masterpiece recommended not only for women in their 70s but for listeners across generations.

Be sure to add it to your repertoire at your next karaoke session!

Love VacationZa Pīnattsu

The Peanuts – A Vacation of Love

The Peanuts’ “Koibito wa Santa Claus” is a hit song from 1963.

With lyrics by Tokiko Iwatani and music by Hiroshi Miyagawa, it captured the sense of a new era at the time and still radiates an enduring charm.

Its pleasant melody and refreshing harmonies are likely to evoke a page of youth for women in their seventies.

Sung at karaoke, its beautiful melody will surely move not only people of the same generation but also younger listeners.

It’s a highly recommended track for a relaxing time!